Road plans face scrutiny as alternative put forward

PROPOSALS for a road realignment scheme in Pembrokeshire are set to be scrutinised at the full council meeting next week.

- BRUCE SINCLAIR

Newgale suffered severe flooding after storms in early 2014 and during Storm Dennis in 2020. Then Prime Minister David Cameron even visited the area in 2014 after the storms.

A public consultation, conducted by agent AtkinsRéalis, begun earlier this year in anticipation of a formal application from Pembrokeshire council to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Phase 1 of the Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project.

The project involves developing a new inland road section with a bridge over Brandy Brook, approximately 1.4 miles (2.3km) inland.

This would replace the coastal section of the A487 at Newgale that is due to be closed and removed, among other works.

There have been varied estimates regarding the cost of this scheme, ranging from £20m upwards, with some speculating it could reach as high as £60m.

Millions have already been spent on consultation fees.

An alternative proposal has been put forward by Stun (Stand Up for Newgale), which has previously claimed that the public has been misled about the necessity for the new Newgale bypass.